FDD's Long War Journal

Yemen

An Iranian diplomat was killed after resisting a kidnapping attempt in the capital of Sana’a. The military killed a pregnant woman and her two daughters during shelling in Dhale.

Analysis: Shifting dynamics of rebel infighting in Syria

Recent infighting between the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham and other Islamist groups, including the Al Nusrah Front, has not yet risen to an all-out confrontation.

Newly declassified documents show that the US military has been prevented from hunting down those who attacked the US Mission in Benghazi in 2012 because the Authorization for Use of Military Force restricts targeting to those with proven links to “core al Qaeda.” Secretary of State Kerry urged Syrian rebel groups to attend the Geneva […]

Al Nusrah Front suicide bomber kills 5 in attack on Hezbollah

AL Qaeda-affiliated groups are stepping up attacks on Hezbollah and Iranian interests in Lebanon as the Syrian civil war rages.

Lebanon

The Abdullah Azzam Brigades confirmed the death of its leader, Majid al Majid; vowed to continue to target Iran and Hezbollah; and threatened attacks against “the Jewish oppressors.” The group claimed that Majid personally oversaw the twin suicide attacks on the Iranian Embassy in Beirut in November. Security forces arrested a Palestinian man linked to […]

United States

Former Army intelligence specialist Craig Baxam, of Laurel, Md., was sentenced to seven years in prison yesterday for deliberately destroying records in a terrorism investigation. He was arrested in Kenya in December 2011 while trying to join Shabaab. The Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee accused President Obama of ignoring the continuing US mission […]

Syria

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham captured al Bab in Aleppo from rebel units, setting up checkpoints and conducting house-to-house searches. State media claimed that security forces killed scores of Islamic Front fighters in Damascus and destroyed a large quantity of weapons and uncovered terrorist tunnels in Aleppo. ISIS and rebels clashed in […]

Al Qaeda

Iran’s ‘secret’ al Qaeda prisoners

Somalia

Shabaab has warned residents of Mogadishu not to work for international aid organizations. The group also threated to attack US forces in Mogadishu, following reports that the US has a base at Mogadishu airport. A delegation of Somali parliamentarians visited their counterparts in Iran to extend bilateral ties.

Morocco

Moroccans assess Benkirane government performance

United States

The US is accelerating sales and delivery of military equipment, including Hellfire missiles and drones, to Iraq to help in the fight against al Qaeda. A US gunmaker turned down a deal to sell precision rifles to Pakistan, out of concern they could be used against US troops. Iran rejected Secretary of State Kerry’s suggestion […]

United States

Secretary of State Kerry said the US is not contemplating sending troops to Iraq to fight al Qaeda, and added that although the US could help Iraq, the fight was Iraq’s. Kerry also suggested that Iran might play a role in the Geneva II peace talks on Syria.

Syria

The Al Nusrah Front released video of leader Abu Muhammad al-Julani’ conducting a battlefield tour in Aleppo. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham clashed with various rebel groups in Aleppo, and an ISIS commander is said to have been killed in Azaz. ISIS warned rebels that unless they stop attacking ISIS, release ISIS […]

Saudi emir of Abdullah Azzam Brigades dies in custody

Majid bin Muhammad al Majid was reportedly seeking treatment for kidney disease when he was captured by Lebanese security forces.

Lebanon

A car bombing in Beirut killed four people and wounded 77; a Hezbollah official said the attack took place just meters from the party’s political council. Security forces are reportedly taking unprecedented measures after the arrest of Majid al Majid, the leader of the Abdullah Azzam Brigades, which has threatened attacks until Hezbollah withdraws from […]

Pakistan

A suicide bomber killed three people and wounded 30 more in an attack on a bus in Quetta. The suicide bomber rammed his vehicle into a bus that was transporting Shia travelers from Iran.

Lebanon

Defense Minister Ghosn denied confirming the arrest of Majid bin Mohammad al Majid, the leader of the al Qaeda-linked Abdullah Azzam Brigades. Lebanese media has reported that al Majid was arrested in Beirut. A Twitter account belonging to a member of the group who had claimed the Nov. 21 attack on the Iranian Embassy has […]

Emir of Abdullah Azzam Brigades detained in Lebanon

Majid bin Muhammad al Majid, a Saudi jihadist who leads the al Qaeda-associated Abdullah Azzam Brigades, is thought to have been captured last month.

Bahrain

Authorities foiled an attempt to smuggle arms and weapons into the country by boat, including anti-personnel and armor-piercing explosives, “50 Iranian-made hand bombs,” and 295 apparently Syrian-made commercial detonators. They also arrested 13 people trying to flee by boat, and dismantled a car bomb in Al-Houra. Five men were sentenced to 15 years in prison […]

Syria

At least 19 rebels have been killed in three days of fighting with regime troops for control of the Deir Izzour military airbase. Foreign Minister Muallem said yesterday that Syria wants Iran to attend the Geneva II talks. The UN asked the regime and rebels to allow aid into the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus. […]

Hamas

Will Iran, Hamas resume relations?

Boko Haram leader claims another attack in Borno state

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has once again released a video claiming responsibility for a high-profile attack on a Nigerian military installation.

Israel

A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip landed in southern Israel, as authorities deployed an Iron Dome missile defense system near Sderot. Defense Minister Ya’alon said the increase in attacks recently is a response to ongoing peace talks with the Palestinians. Senior Israeli official Yitzhak Molcho recently met with a senior Egyptian official in Europe.

Afghanistan

Pentagon Probes Firm for Violation of Iran Rules

United States

The US transferred two Sudanese detainees, Noor Uthman Muhammed and Ibrahim Othman Ibrahim Idris, from Guantanamo to Sudan. Both men are linked to al Qaeda; Idris, who swore allegiance to Osama bin Laden in the 1990s, was one of the first detainees at Guantanamo. The White House warned that President Obama would veto proposed new […]

Israel

Israeli officials said Egyptian military operations in North Sinai will continue for at least the next several months. Two Palestinians were killed during overnight clashes with Israeli forces in the West Bank. President Peres said the world must continue to pressure Iran. Foreign Minister Lieberman said Israel is serious about reaching an agreement with the […]